tou2 faan6討飯讨饭
Jyutpingtou2 faan6
Yaletóu faahn
Definition
To beg for food.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of pity or social stigma, often used to describe someone who has hit rock bottom. While it literally means begging for food, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone who is extremely poor or has lost their livelihood. It is much more blunt and emotionally charged than the more neutral term 乞食.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
begging for food
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is simply asking for a small favor or a snack, as it implies a desperate state of homelessness or extreme poverty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
